Campus Services, Activities Board at Columbia and Student Governing Board Partner on Summer Storage Solution

At the end of every academic year, student groups typically have to identify storage for their materials. This ranges from costumes, props or production elements for the performing arts groups, equipment for engineering groups, instruments for musicians, or supplies for other programs.

In the past, students would scramble to come up with a solution – some might use their summer housing to store items or even travel home with materials to store. Other student groups allocated funding for summer storage in the city. 

Now, they can reinvest that energy and money into planning and executing community-building activities on campus. Thanks to some creative space management and great organizational skills, Columbia Mail, Event Management, and Recognized Student Groups have a new summer storage plan.

“This solution removes a significant strain from student group leaders, in the midst of finals and move out. It really lifts a weight off their shoulders,” shared Julian Infante, President of the Activities Board at Columbia (ABC), who helped coordinate the effort with peers and the Campus Services departments. 

ABC and SGB purchased 200 storage bins for recognized student groups, who signed up for a storage slot. Bins were distributed out of John Jay dining hall on Friday, May 2 with tagging and return instructions. Bins were packed and turned back in to Columbia Mail in Wien Hall by Wednesday, May 7. From there, Columbia Mail logged and labeled bins with barcodes for tracking and communication, then put away for the summer. Student groups will pick up their bins upon their return to campus, by September 3.  

Additional thanks to Columbia Dining who received the storage bins and served as the distribution location for student groups, as well as Columbia Housing who loaned moving bins for students to transport items to Wien.